N O G H E AV E N MONSTER MASH

Okay, so you don’t drink eggnog every If you no longer mash your own day. But as the holidays approach, the potatoes, a package of Simply stuff starts showing up everywhere. Potatoes refrigerated Mashed So do its calories (340), saturated fat Potatoes might look more appeal- (11 grams), and cholesterol (150 mg). ing than an economical box of dried And that’s for 1 cup, which some party- potato fl akes. goers manage to dispose of before their It’s not that simple. coats. Each serving brings 170 calories Not a great start for people about and 520 milligrams of sodium to to dig into an all-you-can-eat buffet of your plate. And it delivers 5 grams fatty dips, brie, quiche, tarts, chocolate- of saturated fat and 1 gram of trans dipped strawberries, fruitcakes, and fat to each modest (²⁄³ cup) portion. more. Simply Potatoes manages this Enter Silk Nog, a soy version that feat by mixing its familiar spuds with half-and-half, butter, whole replaces the traditional extra-fatty milk or milk, and margarine, along with salt, xanthan gum, and a few other cream and egg yolks with water, organic ingredients. Not exactly health food. soybeans, and a few vitamins. Gone is Not exactly necessary, either. Thanks to skim milk and just a the saturated fat and about half the calories. touch of butter, the company’s Country Style Mashed Potatoes keep Here’s the kicker: Silk Nog tastes remarkably like real, old- the sat fat to 1.5 grams, the sodium to 110 mg, the calories to 110, fashioned, honest-to-gosh eggnog. and the trans fat to zero. And you don’t have to be a soy milk en- Even better are Simply Potatoes Mashed thusiast to appreciate it. Somehow, Silk Nog Sweet Potatoes, which have similar numbers tastes creamier and, well, silkier than fat-free but more beta carotene and other phyto- OF THE MONTH eggnog (which has similar numbers). TIP chemicals than their pale counterparts. If you can’t fi nd Silk Nog, Vitasoy Holly To keep a cutting board from Just steer clear of the company’s Garlic Nog is worth a try. slipping on the counter as you or Sour Cream & Chive Mashed Potatoes, So why not start your New Year’s resolutions chop, or a bowl from sliding as you which are no better than the original fl avor. early, by ringing in the new without making Who needs around a quarter of a day’s mix, dampen a paper towel and your arteries old. bad fat that will end up as Silly Putty in your place it under the board or bowl. arteries? Silk: (303) 443-3470. When you fi nish, use the towel to wipe off the counter. Photos: Nick Waring. Vitasoy: (800) 848-2769. Simply Potatoes: (866) 533-7783.

About CSPI, Nutrition Action Healthletter publisher of CENTER FOR SCIENCE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST Nutrition Action Suite 300, 1875 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. Healthletter Washington, DC 20009-5728 The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), founded in 1971, is an independent nonprofi t consumer health group. CSPI advocates honest food labeling and advertising, safer and more nutritious foods, and pro-health alcohol policies. CSPI’s work is supported by Nutrition Action Healthletter subscribers and foundation grants. CSPI accepts no government or industry fund- ing. Nutrition Action Healthletter, which has been published since 1974, accepts no advertising. PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER

NUTRITION ACTION HEALTHLETTER � DECEMBER 2005

uD5_16_1028_F.indd 16 10/28/05 5:27:14 PM